I can't believe this fight wasn't made, can't believe how stubborn they could both be not to let it happen. Let's see you had Jones as the undisputed LHW chamo, Hopkins the undisputed MW champ, they had met once before and clearly didn't like on another. So who wins?
Damn shame it never happened. The fight might have sucked, but the pressers would have been legendary. I'm thinking Roy by 60/40 ass whooping.
I wouldn't make a prediction just suggest to look back at their opposition and performances in those years, let's say 2001, 2002 and 2003. Jones faced very mediocre competition, Woods, Gonzalez, Ruiz at HW are not bad names, all 3 picked up a world title at some point, but neither were ELITE. The Ruiz win is overrated if you think Roy would've beat any HW that night. He beat the slowest, smallest, most suitable handpicked HW champ, and he gets the credit for moving up and beating one, but that's it. From 2001 to 2003, his record is 6-0 with 3 TKOs, including a debated one vs. Tarver, who was the ONLY elite fighter in that period, and to be honest, people only started to say Tarver is elite when he KOd Roy 6 months later. From 2001 to 2003 Hopkins unified the MW division, beat P4P#2 Tito by absolute stunning schooling. His record is 5-0 with 3KOs, beating 3 reigning MW champions (Holmes, Trinidad, Joppy). Vs. his limited opposition, Jones lost about 10 rounds, Hopkins barely lost 1 or 2. All I'm saying that in those years Hopkins was already a significantly better fighter than the one who had a CLOSE fight with Roy years back, and by the time period ended (2003, 1st Tarver fight), Roy started to fade badly. Hopkins faced the better opposition AND dominated the opposition more without any signs of aging. Please consider this when making a prediction.
at 167 hopkins takes it, hopkins was the biggest threat to Roy Jones in the middleweight, super middle and light heavyweight division, the guys Jones was fighting at the time did not compare, and having to go down to 167 lbs, I think Hopkins would have the advantage
Jones dropped the ball as far as his legacy is concerned. He should have been in fights like this in 2002. Instead he was fighting Glen Kelly and Clinton Woods. When guys like Jones and Mayweather come along , with obvious talents beyond that of most others, you'd expect them to take on really interesting challenges, like a rematch with Hopkins might have been. But no, they just act snotty and take on fights that are foregone conclusions. In all likelyhood, Jones would have beaten Hopkins again, but Benard improved a whole lot since their first fight, and it would have been a lot more interesting than watching Jones toy with a woefully mismatched Kelly.
What month in 2002? just so I can work it out on my prime/not prime, roy jones genius/overated ratio!
Hmmm...this is about H2H, so if opponents are considered, they have to be looked at H2H as well, not starpower. Say what you will about Ruiz, he would absolutely crush Trinidad. Ruiz brawled 36 rounds with Holyfield. I don't like Ruiz and he was never the true champ, but a natural HW. The close fight you mention between Hopkins and Jones was one that Jones fought with a broken hand and it was a clear enough win that even Hopkins, not the most graceful fighter in defeat, accepted the loss. If Jones would have faced Hopkins' opposition 2001 - 2003, he would have easily beaten them all and looked at least as good as Hopkins did. Hopkins beating Ruiz? I highly doubt it.
Shoudl have happened honestly cant pick a winner, think Bernard is going to have to attack more than he usually does to get a decision whether he would or not I dont know I definitely dont see it ending before 12.
you cant blame jones for wantin 60% as he already beat hopkins and was the bigger name. Would of been great as i think hopkins improved(mind u jones may hav made hopkins luk like a lost little boy). I miss the old jones and james toney.... good times
Hopkins was on top of the world at that time, Jones would've lost badly he would've been totally out pointed. Hopkins is the more skilled boxer than Jones, Jones athleticism carried him more than anything else in the sport, Hopkins was evolved at that point compared to his younger days in 1993 when he lost a lopsided decision to Roy Jones!!!
ruiz isn't that bad(not sayin he great) but wot jones did was amazin people put him down cuz they say ruiz was **** but ruiz was a okay champ the prob was he put people to sleep so they didn't get to see his skills (limited but still there)
I don't think Jones would have any problems getting down to the weight, and if that's the case, he wins another UD. Hopkins just isn't the fighter to beat peak Jones. His best assets - footwork, defense, counter punching, in-fighting etc are all for the most part negated against someone like Jones. He would have to be aggressive against Roy, and he would have to try and contain Jones on the inside as much as possible. That just isn't going to happen. Hopkins doesn't have the kind of pressure ability to pin Roy down and keep him there (few if any do) and he doesn't have the kind of power to take Jones out with one or two clean shots. B-Hop's whole game is controlling the tempo and range of a fight, and he would not be able to do that against someone as fast and smart as Jones.
